Johnson County will spend $250,000 over the next six months on an Uber-like transit experiment, trying to find a better alternative to large buses carrying small numbers of passengers.
The county is paying for a “microtransit” pilot project serving parts of Overland Park, Mission, Shawnee and Lenexa that will allow passengers to summon a ride on a small van to desired destinations, via a smart phone app.
It’s an on-demand service that’s somewhat akin to Uber or Lyft, although this program involves a “shared ride.” It connects up to 12 passengers at one time who start out in nearby locations and need a ride to destinations in close proximity.
County officials say it’s unique in the country and demonstrates their effort to be more creative and to get more people using mass transit, in partnership with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)